Maximal exercise does not increase ventilation heterogeneity in healthy trained adults

The effect of exercise on ventilation heterogeneity has not been investigated. We hypothesized that a maximal exercise bout would increase ventilation heterogeneity. We also hypothesized that increased ventilation heterogeneity would be associated with exercise‐induced arterial hypoxemia (EIAH). Healthy trained adult males were prospectively assessed for ventilation heterogeneity using lung clearance index (LCI), S(cond), and S(acin) at baseline, postexercise and at recovery, using the multiple breath nitrogen washout technique. The maximal exercise bout consisted of a maximal, incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test at 25 watt increments. Eighteen subjects were recruited with mean ± SD age of 35 ± 9 years. There were no significant changes in LCI, S(cond), or S(acin) following exercise or at recovery. While there was an overall reduction in SpO(2) with exercise (99.3 ± 1 to 93.7 ± 3%, P < 0.0001), the reduction in SpO(2) was not associated with changes in LCI, S(cond) or S(acin). Ventilation heterogeneity is not increased following a maximal exercise bout in healthy trained adults. Furthermore, EIAH is not associated with changes in ventilation heterogeneity in healthy trained adults.